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Summarized by Kent Larsen
LDS Church Member Dimon McFerson's Last Hurrah
LDS Church Member Dimon McFerson's Last Hurrah
COLUMBUS, OHIO -- LDS Church member Dimon R. McFerson, chairman of
Nationwide Insurance and longtime proponent of Nationwide's home,
Columbus, Ohio, is being honored for his contributions to Columbus
just as he retires from the Insurance giant. McFerson has served for
many years on the board of Ohio's Center of Science and Industry,
overseeing the center's move to a new, larger facility last year that
is getting positive reviews.
He also was responsible for Columbus' new Nationwide Arena, a $150
million hockey and basketball facility that was 90% financed by
Nationwide (the balance was paid for by the Columbus Dispatch
newspaper). The arena is also part of a broader development plan that
will revitalize a part of the city. Dispatch publisher John F. Wolfe
says that the arrangement basically gave the city $500 million worth
of development in a once-blighted 95-acre area of the city for $33
million in public funds from the city. Columbus Mayor Michael B.
Coleman surprised McFerson on Friday at the arena's opening by naming
the 3-acre park around the arena McFerson Commons.
To recognize McFerson's contribution to the Center of Science and
Industry, he will be honored at the new building's anniversary gala
on November 16th. While attendance at the new center has been strong
during its first hear, and it expects to exceed expected attendance
of 950,000. However, COSI, as the center is known, also has operating
costs that are more than 50% higher in the larger facility. McFerson
also reportedly played a role in attracting former astronaut Kathryn
D. Sullivan to head the center.
Sources:
Sneak peek at arena has many fans raving
Columbus OH Dispatch 9Sep00 B2
By Dennis Fiely and George Myers Jr.: Dispatch Staff Reporters
A world-class asset
Columbus OH Dispatch 3Sep00 B2
By David Lore: Dispatch Science Reporter
As first year winds down, the new COSI is meeting expectations
Columbus OH Dispatch 3Sep00 B2
By David Lore: Dispatch Science Reporter
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